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Chapter XXI
But, indeed, what could mortal do for her? Nothing! The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish. Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave. But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?”
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading “But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.”
causing or relating to death
From this reading “But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing!”
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading “But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
causing or relating to death
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
not any; not one
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time, it is true, would steal away her grief, and bury it and the best of her heart in the same grave.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But, indeed, what could mortal do for her?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The attempt would be a mockery and an anguish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Destiny itself, methought, in its kindliest mood, could do no better for Zenobia, in the way of quick relief; than to cause the impending rock to impend a little farther, and fall upon her head.
